Niles Township Community High School District 219
Encyclopedia
Niles Township Community High School District 219 is a public secondary school district in Illinois
.
The district serves Lincolnwood
and parts of Morton Grove
, Niles
, and Skokie
in Niles Township
, which is located in Northern Cook County, Illinois
.
The district has had a number of successes in the arts and sciences. In 2007, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts named District 219's arts program the best in the nation. In addition to Niles West's success in Science Olympiad
, it is one of the few school districts which can claim two Nobel Laureates
as alumni.
In addition to these successes, the district is also known for a long history of labor disputes which have disrupted classes.
on the south, and Harlem Avenue on the west.
Among the notable sites within the district are the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, and the Leaning Tower of Niles
.
The Board for the 2008-09 school year:
The first strike authorization by teachers came in October, 1966, when teachers represented by the American Federation of Teachers
voted to authorize a strike in order to secure collective bargaining rights. Teachers again authorized a strike in May, 1967 over salary demands. This time, a strike did take place. 85 teachers crossed picket lines, and over 150 parents entered the school to teach. A court ordered an end to the strike the day after it started. Despite the court order, 200 teachers refused to return to school, with 100 calling in "sick". After two days of disruption, the strike was called off by local union officials.
In May, 1970, the teachers again authorized a strike over salary. While negotiations continued throughout 1970 and into 1971, the authorization to strike was reaffirmed in March, 1971. The strike threat continued into the 1971-72 school year
Teachers again authorized a strike in September, 1973 over payment for non-teaching time. Teachers did follow through with their strike threat despite an offer of 8% increase in salary. After five days, teachers accepted a contract with an 8% pay increase in the first year, and a gradually increasing pay increase throughout the life of the three year contract.
In September, 1976, the teachers union again authorized a strike, this time at the cost of seven days of school. When the strike took place, teachers were threatened with firing, which a judge requested the school board delay. This strike ended after seven days.
1979 saw another strike, though classes were able to resume on a modified schedule with teachers who crossed the picket line and substitutes. After 15 days, the strike was ended with double digit salary increases for teachers.
A 1985 strike lasting 11 days ended after the teachers and Board of Education submitted to an arbitrator to solve final details of the contract.
The remainder of the 1980s and early 1990s remained relatively quiet. 1996 saw the next strike action. The Board of Education tried to force teachers back to work, claiming the strike was illegal during arbitration sessions, though teachers remained on strike. As the strike wore on, some of the fall sports teams were forced to forfeit their final regular season games and their state playoff games. The situation worsened when it was learned that the federal mediator had taken a week off to attend a conference at a resort. The Illinois Labor Relations Board publicly condemned both sides for failing to work in earnest to end the strike. By November 2, the District began announcing plans to replace striking teachers by as early as November 18. Parental involvement eventually helped end the strike on November 4 after 14 days. The final contract was ratified in January, 1997, with the district stating an estimated cost of the strike at US$
300,000, including a need to sweep areas for electronic eavesdropping devices.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
The district serves Lincolnwood
Lincolnwood, Illinois
Lincolnwood is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,359 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lincolnwood is located at ....
and parts of Morton Grove
Morton Grove, Illinois
Morton Grove is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,451 at the 2000 census.The Village President of Morton Grove since April 27, 2009, is Daniel J...
, Niles
Niles, Illinois
Niles is a village in Maine and Niles Townships, Cook County, Illinois, United States. The 2010 population from the U.S. Census Bureau is 29,803.The current mayor of Niles is Robert M. Callero.-History:Niles was first settled in 1827....
, and Skokie
Skokie, Illinois
Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Native American word for "fire". A Chicago suburb, for many years Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, per the 2000 census, was 63,348...
in Niles Township
Niles Township, Cook County, Illinois
Niles Township is one of thirty townships in Cook County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 102,638.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Niles Township covers an area of .-Cities, towns, villages:* Glenview...
, which is located in Northern Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
.
The district has had a number of successes in the arts and sciences. In 2007, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts named District 219's arts program the best in the nation. In addition to Niles West's success in Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...
, it is one of the few school districts which can claim two Nobel Laureates
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
as alumni.
In addition to these successes, the district is also known for a long history of labor disputes which have disrupted classes.
Geography
The district is (roughly) bordered by Central Street on the north, McCormick Boulevard on the east, Devon AvenueDevon Avenue (Chicago)
Devon Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare in the Chicago metropolitan area. It begins at Chicago's Sheridan Road, which borders Lake Michigan, and it runs west until merging with Higgins Road near O'Hare International Airport. Devon continues on the opposite side of the airport and runs...
on the south, and Harlem Avenue on the west.
Among the notable sites within the district are the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, and the Leaning Tower of Niles
Leaning Tower of Niles
The Leaning Tower of Niles, Illinois, was completed in 1934 by industrialist Robert Ilg as part of a recreation park for employees of the Ilg Hot Air Electric Ventilating Company of Chicago. It is situated at 6300 W...
.
Board of education
There are seven members of the Board, each elected to a four year term. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may hold.The Board for the 2008-09 school year:
| Position | Board Member | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|
| President | Robert Silverman | 2013 |
| Vice President | Lynda Gault Smith | 2013 |
| Secretary | Ruth Klint | 2013 |
| Secretary Pro-Tem | Sheri B. Doniger | 2011 |
| Member | Carlton Evans | 2011 |
| Member | Jeffrey D. Greenspan | 2011 |
| Member | Eileen Valfer | 2011 |
Notable alumni
Labor relations
The district and its employees have had a long history of labor problems, dating back to the 1960s.The first strike authorization by teachers came in October, 1966, when teachers represented by the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
voted to authorize a strike in order to secure collective bargaining rights. Teachers again authorized a strike in May, 1967 over salary demands. This time, a strike did take place. 85 teachers crossed picket lines, and over 150 parents entered the school to teach. A court ordered an end to the strike the day after it started. Despite the court order, 200 teachers refused to return to school, with 100 calling in "sick". After two days of disruption, the strike was called off by local union officials.
In May, 1970, the teachers again authorized a strike over salary. While negotiations continued throughout 1970 and into 1971, the authorization to strike was reaffirmed in March, 1971. The strike threat continued into the 1971-72 school year
Teachers again authorized a strike in September, 1973 over payment for non-teaching time. Teachers did follow through with their strike threat despite an offer of 8% increase in salary. After five days, teachers accepted a contract with an 8% pay increase in the first year, and a gradually increasing pay increase throughout the life of the three year contract.
In September, 1976, the teachers union again authorized a strike, this time at the cost of seven days of school. When the strike took place, teachers were threatened with firing, which a judge requested the school board delay. This strike ended after seven days.
1979 saw another strike, though classes were able to resume on a modified schedule with teachers who crossed the picket line and substitutes. After 15 days, the strike was ended with double digit salary increases for teachers.
A 1985 strike lasting 11 days ended after the teachers and Board of Education submitted to an arbitrator to solve final details of the contract.
The remainder of the 1980s and early 1990s remained relatively quiet. 1996 saw the next strike action. The Board of Education tried to force teachers back to work, claiming the strike was illegal during arbitration sessions, though teachers remained on strike. As the strike wore on, some of the fall sports teams were forced to forfeit their final regular season games and their state playoff games. The situation worsened when it was learned that the federal mediator had taken a week off to attend a conference at a resort. The Illinois Labor Relations Board publicly condemned both sides for failing to work in earnest to end the strike. By November 2, the District began announcing plans to replace striking teachers by as early as November 18. Parental involvement eventually helped end the strike on November 4 after 14 days. The final contract was ratified in January, 1997, with the district stating an estimated cost of the strike at US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
300,000, including a need to sweep areas for electronic eavesdropping devices.